Listen up, little ones
Listen for the words Melchizedek and priest.
Reading
Hebrews 7:11-25—A Forever Priest
Optional Reading
Psalm 110:1-7
Keys for kids
- Jesus is not from the tribe of Levi, but from a different order.
- God appointed Him as our forever priest.
- As our priest, Jesus always prays to God for us.
Questions
- From what order is Jesus a priest?
- How is His priesthood better than the Levitical priests?
- How do we know Jesus is our forever priest?
Notes
(See Saturday for authors.)
After telling us of the greatness of Melchizedek, Hebrews now tells us how Jesus is even greater. Greater than Melchizedek and greater than the priesthood of Aaron. As good as the Old Testament system was, in the end it was weak and useless (v. 18). So God provided a better system and a better priest (and as we will see later in Hebrews, a better covenant, better sanctuary, better sacrifice).
This better priest came from a different order than these Hebrew Christians would have been thinking and expecting. We can’t know, but maybe they were wondering about Jesus being the great high priest since he wasn’t of Aaron’s line, but of the line of Judah. Jesus was giving His priesthood from God the Father as prophesied in Psalm 110:4. His priesthood is eternal—a priest forever. Never will Jesus need a successor.
And as our priest, Jesus comes to God on our behalf. Mohler notes that Christians need an intercessor and mediator. … Christians need a priest who intercedes for sin and provides help in times of need. Jesus is that priest and intercessor that we need. No other priest is needed—for these Hebrews and for us.
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 110b, 111a
Prayer
- Rejoice in your priest, Jesus, praying to God for you.
- Pray for the hearing of God’s word preached this Lord's Day.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.